Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act for a consumer reporting agency: (1) to make, create, or furnish any consumer report or credit report containing, incorporating, or reflecting any adverse information that the consumer reporting agency knows or should know relates to medical debt incurred by the consumer or a collection action against the consumer to collect medical debt; and (2) to maintain in the file on a consumer any information relating to medical debt incurred by a consumer or a collection action against the consumer to collect medical debt.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor technical update to the law governing the occupation tax for cigarette machine operators. Specifically, it amends the official short title of the existing Cigarette Machine Operators' Occupation Tax Act. The legislation does not change tax rates, add new fees, or alter the rules for who must pay the tax. It was signed into law and became effective on July 1, 2024, primarily to correct the name of the statute.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In a provision requiring retail licensees to post a sign with a specified message concerning the risk of birth defects, removes a provision directing individuals who need assistance for substance abuse to call the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Provides that the sign shall be no less than (instead of no larger than) 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring consumer education to be taught and studied, provides that beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2024-2025 school year, pupils in the public schools in grade 11 or 12 shall be taught and be required to complete a stand-alone, one-semester or equivalent course covering personal finance, which shall include, but is not limited to, instruction covering behavioral economics; banking and bill payment; investing; types of credit; managing credit; including credit scores; paying for college; insurance; taxes; budgeting; consumer skills; retirement planning, including tax-advantaged retirement plans; home ownership and financing; and personal transportation, including car ownership and leasing. Provides that the State Board of Education shall devise or approve the personal finance education standards for the course. Provides that the school board shall oversee implementation of the personal finance course for each high school student prior to graduation. Specifies the oversight duties of the school board. In provisions regarding required high school courses, provides that the personal finance education course may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, expands the definition of "access" to mean the right to inspect and copy (rather than inspect) the clinical and other records of a participant or resident, regardless of age, with the express written consent of the participant or resident. In provisions concerning access and visitation rights, provides that a long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, and shared housing establishment must permit representatives of the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman, with the permission of the resident or other specified persons, to examine and copy the resident's clinical and other records.

Amends the Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act. Provides that the Commission on Equity and Inclusion shall collect and publish on its websites all relevant supplier diversity reports submitted to any State agency to provide a comprehensive review of all reports for the benefit of the public, particularly diverse business owners seeking to contract with companies or organizations that administer a supplier diversity program. Provides that the Commission may hold public workshops focused on specific industries and reports to collaboratively connect diverse enterprises with entities that manage supplier diversity programs. Provides that the Commission may hold public workshops focused on specific industries and reports to collaboratively connect diverse enterprises with entities that manage supplier diversity programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Utilities Act to rename it the Wetlands Protection Act and establish a comprehensive state framework for protecting Illinois' wetlands and small streams. It defines various types of wetlands, such as bogs and bottomland hardwoods, and creates a permit system managed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or approved local districts to regulate activities that could harm these areas. The legislation aims to restore protections for water bodies that may no longer be covered by federal laws following recent Supreme Court rulings, ensuring continued benefits like flood control, water filtration, and habitat preservation.

Maddy summarySB 776 is a technical amendment to the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act that updates the official short title of a specific section within the law. This change does not alter any existing rules, regulations, or requirements for nursing home administrators or facilities. The bill focuses solely on correcting the name used to reference a part of the statute, ensuring consistency in legal documents without affecting daily operations or policies.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Removes language providing that any person or entity awarded a craft grower license under specified provisions shall only hold one craft grower license. Requires the Department of Agriculture to issue an additional 30 craft grower licenses on or before May 1, 2023 and an additional 30 craft grower licenses on or before September 1, 2024 under specified conditions. Removes language providing that a craft grower shall not be located within 1,500 feet of another craft grower. Requires each adult use cultivation center or Early Approval Adult Use Cultivation Center License holder that produces THC oil extract to set aside a portion of its total monthly production of THC oil extract to sell to infuser organizations to provide infuser organizations with an adequate supply for their infusion processes. Provides that a transporting organization may transport cannabis or cannabis-infused products to a transporting organization depot or other transporting organization transfer facility. Provides that no cannabis business establishment nor any other person or entity shall engage in advertising that contains any statement or illustration that includes a description of or reference to a cannabis product as "craft", unless that product or the raw material used to create that product is produced by a craft grower. Provides that the tax imposed under the Cannabis Cultivation Privilege Tax Law shall not be assessed against or collected from any craft grower awarded a craft grower license under the Act until 2 years after the date that the license is awarded to the craft grower. Makes other changes.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the term "park district" has the same meaning as defined in the Park District Code and also includes any party to a joint agreement between a park district and an entity to act jointly for the purposes of providing for the establishment, maintenance, and management of joint recreational programs for persons with disabilities, to the extent that the party is acting within the scope of that joint agreement.